30
1069 Words
The weight of my camera felt familiar in my palm, even though I hadn't seen it in such a long time. I looped the strap around my neck as I reached the kitchen, where I found Larkin and Stella already there.
I smiled as I heard Larkin's animated chatting before I caught sight of her. They were both cooking something that looked more like lunch than breakfast, and I frowned as I glanced at the clock. It was close to noon already, though I could have sworn I'd only gotten a couple of sleep.
I caught the tail end of Larkin's enthused words. “And you just watch the people on this little flat screen, I couldn't imagine anything like it.”
Stella grinned over at her. “Just wait until you get a smartphone. You'll be amazed at how many things you can do with a little screen that fits in the palm of your hand.”
“Like a television?” Larkin's eyes looked as round as the moon, and she glanced over at me as I approached. “Good morning, Ayla. Or should I say afternoon?”
“Hey,” Stella said, grinning at me. “Do you want a sandwich?”
“Oh, yes please,” I said, and my stomach growled so loudly that Larkin laughed.
“Coming right up,” Stella said, as she grabbed another piece of bread. “But yeah, it's like a TV, Larkin, but even better. You can even read books on it. You can have as many books as you can imagine. Hundreds of them all on the little device that you can stick in your pocket.”
"No way," Larkin said.
I sat down in the living room and listened to Stella and Larkin chatter more about the marvels of modern technology. I was struck once again by how odd it was to know that Larkin had spent most of her life without any of these. It was sad, but at least she had a chance to experience it now.
Stella brought a plate over to me, and I took it gratefully. It was a BLT, and my mouth started watering before I even bit into it. I closed my eyes and made an appreciative noise.
“I've missed your cooking so much,” I said.
Stella sat down opposite me, and Larkin wandered over to join us. “Everyone is getting ready to move again,” Stella said after I'd taken a few bites of my sandwich. “Eileen left early this morning to rejoin the Sagittarius pack.”
A bolt of panic went through me. “What about Wesley?”
Stella shrugged. "I think he's outside somewhere. I saw him walking down to the lake earlier."
I polished off my sandwich and took my plate over to the sink. “Thank you,” I said again and waved as I headed outside.
I took a deep breath and tilted my head back to let the rays of sun shine onto my face. That was another thing I'd missed in Lunatera. I never thought I could miss the sun quite so much, but standing under it, I realized that I'd taken it for granted. I certainly wouldn't be doing that anymore.
Wesley was seated by the lake, and to my surprise, Mira was with him. I opened my mouth to call out to them, but stopped. There was something about their posture, something intimate in the way they were curved toward each other, sitting a bit closer than was probably proper. Wesley reached out and touched her shoulder.
I walked a bit closer and caught sight of the looks on their faces. I knew Mira had always had a crush on my brother, but this went beyond that. This was fondness, or longing even—and he wore the expression too. I raised my camera and snapped a picture before I could stop myself. It was too pure of a moment to pass up. When I looked at the picture on the small screen, I smiled. It captured their emotions perfectly.
I looked back up at them, a pang of sadness nearly catching me off guard. If the Sun Witches hadn't interfered, they probably would have been mates. Once we remove the bonds, they can find out, I told myself before I could let the sadness completely overtake me. There was still hope for them, and I'd rather focus on that than wallow.
Mira started to say something, but glanced up and noticed me. She paused mid-sentence and waved toward me, and I noticed the bit of space they put between themselves. I wanted to tell them that I didn't care, but bringing it up might be an issue in and of itself. She was still mated to someone else, after all.
I walked the rest of the way out to join them, and Wesley scooted over so I could sit between them. He slung a hand over my shoulder, and I leaned into him. I'd missed all of them, and I couldn't help but smile as I settled between them. No matter how much I'd enjoyed living in Lunatera, this was where I really belonged.
“Did I miss anything while I was asleep?” I asked.
“Amos had to go back to the Pisces pack, but he asked Aiden and I to stay with you and the rest of the Ophiuchus pack," Mira said. "He wants us to keep him updated on everything.”
I grinned at her. “I'm so happy to hear that. Now we just need to get Wesley to stay too, and it'll be like old times again.”
Before Wesley could answer, a voice called out Mira's name. I twisted around to see Aiden, her mate, standing where I had been just a few minutes ago. I wondered what he would have thought if he'd seen her and Wesley together, and I was glad that I'd been the one to find them instead.
Mira jumped up. “We'll chat more later."
I watched her go for a few moments before turning back to Wesley, whose eyes were glued on Mira.
He finally looked back at me. “What are you grinning about?” he asked, shoving me slightly.
I shoved him back. “Oh, you've got it bad, brother."
“I have no idea what you're talking about."
- Writer
